There are common narrative themes that run through the series.

The gameplay changes are complemented by stylistic choices, with the games’s aesthetics and soundscape taking on a more modern flavour that more closely connects them to present-day life. These are where Persona has truly branched itself out from the rest of Shin Megami Tensei, implementing its now ubiquitous daily simulation elements as players go through a school year with flexibility as to when they wish to head into its dungeons. The second phase consists of Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5, each of which has received additional versions and spin-offs. This first phase is more challenging to get hold of as of now, as while the second phase titles are the subject to remasters and ports to modern systems, these are very much stuck on older systems. They still make up distinct experiences, and are certainly not afraid to put their own spins on things, particularly evidenced by Persona 2′s approach to its duology. These largely keep the general dungeon-crawling gameplay and narrative structure, taking players to various locations as the stories progress. The first consists of Revelations: Persona and the two Persona 2 titles. The series can be divided into two distinct phases. The popular reception to the game, and in particular its high school setting, led to the creation of both the first Persona title, as well as the first Devil Summoner game.

With the ability to recruit demons to their cause, they can also be joined by a human ally. Taking on a smaller-scale setting and story than the main series, if… puts players in the role of a high school student exploring their school and five towers. The origins of Persona lie in Shin Megami Tensei if…, which released in Japan for the Super Famicom in 1994. Instead, we’ve decided to take it a bit more piecemeal, and where better to kick off than with its most successful spin-off sub-series? Especially given Persona has been celebrating its 25th anniversary and will soon be bringing multiple titles to brand new platforms. Really, there’s enough there that it could be the length of at least three of our normal Where to Start? guides.

Our initial plans to look at Atlus’s Shin Megami Tensei series as a whole were swiftly curtailed when we noted just how massive an undertaking it was.

Persona revelations guide